The Past is Present
Rationale
History is the study of what has been ...
what has come before us.
However, the people, places, and events that comprise
our history have far reaching effect. Everywhere we look
today, we can see reminders of our past. In fact, our past
is our present.
The following assignment is intended to heighten our
awareness of this very idea.
Each student will gather one item from
Overview
our present world that is named after, or
based upon, some thing or some one
from America’s past.
Having gathered their item, each student
will then prepare a short presentation to
accompany it.
Both the item and the presentation will
then be shared with the class ... like
Overview
This assignment is worth 40 points.
You will present on ...
Tue. 8/31
Thr. 9/2
Per. 4:
Per. 5:
Per. 6:
Per. 7:
Wed. 9/1
Presentation
When preparing the short oral
presentation, all students should address
the following questions:
What is the item that you have brought in?
Where did the item come from?
•
What historic thing is your item named after?
•
What is the relevance of the historic element?
(Why is it so important that it has something named after it?)
Visual
The visual that you show to the class must exhibit both the
modern item that you chose AND the historic subject.
Your visuals CAN be mixed (i.e. a modern day prop + a historic
picture).
All pictures must be 8.5 x 11 or larger, and printed in color, or
colored by you after printing.
Item Selection
The item that you choose to present may be of a variety of types.
It could be the actual thing (like a container of food, or toy), a
photograph, illustration, or drawing, or even a recording of a
television commercial or a song.
The item can come from a variety of sources: newspapers,
magazines, stores, phonebooks, catalogs, television, etc.
Item Selection: Rule #1
The are
itemnot
thatpresenting
you select amust
adhere
to 7 basic
rules:
You
historic
artifact.
Do not
bring in an
ancient arrowhead, or your grandfather’s Purple Heart, or an
old pair of wooden skis from World War II.
Item Selection: Rule #2
You can not present coins & currency.
Item Selection: Rule #3
The item you select must refer to American history.
insurance
Winston Churchill was
prime-minister of Great Britain.
Item Selection: Rule #4
The item you select must refer to a specific event, individual,
idea, or place in American history.
New England is
a large area of
the U.S., and
has been
important
during out
entire history,
not one specific
era.
Item Selection: Rule #4
The item you select must refer to a specific event, individual,
idea, or place in American history.
√
Mayflower Shipping Company
The ship
Mayflower
existed for only
14 years ...
from 1609 1623.
Item Selection: Rule #5
There must be credible proof that the thing you present is
named after the thing you say it is.
There is no
evidence that the
company was
named after
Albert Einstein.
They just have
the same name.
Item Selection: Rule #5
There must be credible proof that the thing you present is
named after the thing you say it is.
√
Quaker Oats
There’s a
Quaker right
there on the
logo!
Item Selection: Rule #6
The item you select can not have been created specifically to
honor the person it’s named after.
the Lincoln Memorial
The memorial was built
specifically to honor Lincoln.
It exists because he existed.
Item Selection: Rule #6
The item you select can not have been created specifically to
honor the person it’s named after.
√
Honest Abe’s Donuts
There is no direct connection between
the two. The company just uses
Lincoln’s nickname.
Item Selection: Rule #7
The item you select can not have been named after the
person who actually invented or created it.
Ford Motor Company
The company was founded
by Henry Ford.
Item Selection: Rule #7
The item you select can not have been named after the
person who invented or created it.
√
Henry Ford Hospital
Ford didn’t open the hospital.
It is just named after him.
Judging Rules #6 & 7
A good way to judge Rules #6 & 7, is to ask yourself ...
“Would my item still exist if the thing from the past did not?”
If you answer “No, my item would not exist.” ... then your idea is
not a good one.
If you answer “Yes, my item would still exist, but maybe with a
different name.” ... then your idea is a good one.
Judging Rules #6 & 7
√ x
CV-72 U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln
CV-72 U.S.S. Stephen Douglass
Judging Rules #6 & 7
√
Apache Attack Helicopter
x
Winchester Attack Helicopter
Judging Rules #6 & 7
√
Minnesota Vikings
x
Minnesota Beavers
Questions ?